Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-10-18
LIFE AT WEST poInl.
the Excitement OF this I'm ttery Drill at the
Military ACADEMY.

The Excitement OF the In ttery Drill at the |
Military academy.
Of all the drills and exercises In |
which the cadet exccls. he il at his best |
IN those of the mounted service, OAR
ing horsemen are the youngsters after
Two years practice In the riding hall, |
and light battery drill is a famous place
for exhibition Watch the boys as they |
60 to their stations. The senioxs, in |
their riding dress, gauntiets and cav
airy sabers, swing easily into the sad
dies OF the somewhat vicious looking
steeds that are held in readiness for
them. adjust their stirrups, take pre-
liminary and sulreptitious dig with
their spurred heels to test the mettle Of
their nags, then chatter off to their posts
to look over the horses and drivers of
their detachments. The yearlings In
their natty shell jackets stand ready at
the guns; the bugle bIares the signal
"cannoneers mount" and, like 50
many agile monkeys, they spring to
their seats OH the ammunition chests,
and with another bngie blast and rum
Bile of hoof and wheel and clink of
trunnion. away goes the battery down
the grayelly plain. There arc few
preliminary moves to warm them up to
their work; the battery commander,
young artillery officer who knows his
trade. swings them to and fro, faster and
faster, from one formation to another
column, line and battery-and then,
az ufrf f.IsIa s.H 10. L. h. 4
OF an enemy swarming up the heights
and give him canister at short range,
with cracking whips and plunging
steeds and rattle and roar of hoof and
whee', and hoarse-throated commands
and stirring bugle peals, up the plain
they come at tearing gallop until oppo-
site the crowd of spectators at the
| guard tents, when there is a short,
| sudden blast, simultaneous shout
from the ''chiefs," vision Of rearing
| horses as the Lieutenants and
sergeants halt short on line
with the brilliant guidon-generally
the most picturesque horseman of
the warlike throng, and always posted
on the flank nearest the ladies-a flash
of sabers in the air, sudden "rein
| in of the line of caissons, and a
| gradual settle down to stand, long
before which, nimble as cats. the can
noneers have sprung from their seats,
and are streaking it across the gap to
where the chiefs are seated on their ex-
cited chargers. Around sweeps the
gun with sudden swirl that well nigh
capsizes them-the three youngsters on
each Timber seemingly hanging on as
though seated on sticking plasters-
there is a rattle and bang Of pintle-
hooks, hoarse shouts Of Drive on" to
the gun teams; gray and white forms
leap and sway in and out among the
wheels; sponges and FARMERS whirl in
the air; there is belch of flame, smoke
and thunder-cloud. a believing roar
another another-half dozen in quick
succession, thick, sulphurous haze
settle down on the plain and envelop:
guns and gunners, and suddenly come:
another blare of bugle. Cease firing
is the shout, and the mimic scene OF
Buena Vista is over. Even before tbs
smoke has cleared away another
order is given, with prompt, exciting
response. plunging horses, cracking
whips, rush of teams, limoers ant
cassons between the black muzzle!
of the guns; sudden whirl about o
/ wheels and handspikes, and the mex
instant smoke and flame are belchin2
in thunder-claps over the very grount
where stood the waiting teams only ;
moment before. Then comes still an
other signal, slowing away of hand
spikes and hammers, a rapid rein
about of the Timber teams, anothe
blare. and away they go, the whit
| legs of the cannoneers flashing in
race beside their bounding guns;
rush across the road TO the edge of
grassy level beyond, another suddel
whirl into battery. laundering salut
to the rocky heights to the west, al
echoing roar from the great column
: biads and PARROTS at the "sea-coast'
down by the Hudson, and the Poin
fairly trembles with the shock and con
cussion. There is no hour of the da
;. to match the excitement and elan c
that of battery drill.-Captata Chdr!t
King, in Harper's Nagq=ine